I made it through a first this week. On Monday I started my trap bar deadlift sets and quickly made a pivot. I tweaked my neck/shoulder last week doing the most dangerous thing a person my age can do, I went to sleep. I slept wrong and I was douched. When I started pullups on Saturday I felt it. By the second or third set, I could tell it was getting slightly worse. Shockingly, I walked away.
Saturday night I thought I'd be f@cked on Sunday. To my surprise, it felt infinitely better. Monday morning it felt "almost" 100%. However, as soon as I got one plate on the trap bar, I felt it. In my last 37 years of training, I would have fought through my sets. I know I could have that day, but I have rules written on my gym door one of which is "If it hurts, stop!"
Of course, I didn't want to not train, so I went over to the belt squat. I had no issues. Awesome!
Instead of fighting through sh!t like this and setting myself back as I have done due to my stubbornness, I made the right decision. I got to train and lived to fight another day.
This paid even better dividends than I expected. I never thought my affected area would allow me to deadlift. I just figured I'd hit squats again although with less volume. As it turned out, by Friday I felt well enough to deadlift and got to make it up then. Wow, you mean to tell me if I make an intelligent decision to not do something that will bother my body, I'll return to normal faster. Who would have thought.
This really is some of the best advice I can give, let that stubbornness and ego go. Instead of fighting through pain, find other things you can do until you can get back to it. Your body will be grateful in both the long and short term.
